Electrode-supporting rod for electrolytic tanks.



P. JENSEN.

ELECTRODE SUPPORTING ROD FOE ELECTROLYTIC TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1913 Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

a 0 M w M 0 w WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNTTED STATEE PATENT @FFTEE.

PETER. JENSEN. 0F PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, AS$IG NOR OF ONE-THIRD TO LEO GOLDBERGER AND ONE-THIRD TO JOHN KUDRIK, BOTH OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW

JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER Jensen, a citi' zen ot' the United States, and a resident of Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Electrode-Supporting Rod for Electrolytic Tanks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The copper rods now employed, in connection with electrolytic tanks for supporting the electrodes are round in eross-section, and consequently the surface (uickly becomes coated with dirt and other 'ioreign matter, which greatly impairs the clliciency because of the poor contacts obtained between the suspended hooks of the electrodes and rods. Because of these poor contacts greater electric power is required to obtain the best results. I'Iereto'fore it has been the practice in order to maintain the proper contacts to frequently clean and polish the copper supporting rods by emery paper, which is a great item of expense, both for service and for the emery paper.

It is the object of the present invention to so construct the supporting rods for the electrodes that dirt cannot readily lodge thereon, and effective current conducting contacts can be maintained between the suspending hooks of the electrodes and the rods without the necessity of using emery paper or the equivalent to keep the rods in proper condition, as is now necessary.

The supporting rods are preferably made of squared or angular stocleand twisted so that the longitudinal edges of the stock will form spirals which are of such pitch that each hook oi the electrode will be engaged with a plurality of the spiral edges. In other words, each hook has a multiplepoint contact with the supporting rod, and because of the peculiar shape of the rod dirt or foreign matter does not accumulate on the edges with which the suspending hooks or lugs of the electrode engage. The ends of the rod are longitudinally grooved to form V-shapedridges which rest on the bus-bar o'l the tank', so that a multiple-point contact is obtained between the copper supporting bars and the bus-bar.

With these objects in view, and others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1913.

ELECTRODE-SUPPORTING ROD FOR ELECTROLYTIC TANKS.

Patented Sept. 23, 19.1.3. Serial No. 759,891.

which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto. In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one cmhmlinienl ol the invention, and wherein similar rel'crence characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrode supporting bar in position and suspending an electrode; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a supporting bar with an electrode engaged therewith; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rod before the same is twisted.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a copper supporting rod or conductor, 1% the copper plate or electrode, (l the bus-bar supporting one cnd oi the mnductor, and I) the insulatingsupport tor the other end of the conduclor. The intcruuuliate portion 1. ol the electrode supporting rod or conductor is angular in crosssection in its original form, as shown in Fig. I), and this portion ol angular (:rossstattion is twisted so that the straight edges 2, Fig. 3, will be converted into helices, as shown in Fig. 1,, the pitch of which may be such that the suspending hooks or lugs 3 of the electrode 1% will engage a plurality of spiral edges Between the edges 2 are helical grooves -l-, which are out of contact with the suspending lugs 23. In other words, it is only the spiral edges or crests 2 that contact with the lugs. By reason of the shape of the elccMode-engaging portion of the rod A, dirt cannot accumulate on the rod to impair electrical engagement between the latter aml the electrode suspending hooks, or, at least, dirt or foreign matter will not accumulate on the spiral edges which engage the said hooks. Even if the electrodes are shilited longitudinally on their supporting rods, cll'ective electrical contacts will he obtained because of the spiral edges 2 being always clean. T'Ieretol'ore, it the electrodes were shil'ted on their rods, the lugs would contact with dirt-covered portions, and as a result the electrical contact would be impaired.

The extremities t of the rod A have revcrscly disposed longitudinally grooved faces 5 formed with V-shuped ridges (3, so that, when placed in position, the ridges at one end of the bar A. will engage the busbar (l and insure an ell'ective electrical contact. By reverscly arranging the ridges 6 at the opposite ends of the rod the-latter can be reversed.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the method of operation and of the device shown will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the device which I now consider to be .the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electrode suspending rod formed from angular stock and twisted around its longitudinal axis for producing a plurality of helical edges for engaging the suspending hooks of an electrode.

2. An electrode supporting rod or conductor having a plurality of helical electrode-engaging edges. Y

3. An electrode supporting rod or conductor having a plurality of helical electrode-engaging edges and longitudinallyextending ridges arranged in a common plane at the extremities of the rod.

4. A supporting rod having a plurality of sharp edges and grooves between the edges in combination with an electrode having a plurality of hooks engaging the said e ges.

5. An electrode supporting rod having a sharp edge extending helically thereof, and an electrode having a plurality of hooks all engaging said edge for electrically connecting the electrode to the'rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER JENSEN.

Witnesses:

TODER KENDRIOK, ALEXANDER BALNIT, Jr. 

